Aerial advertising device



Feb. 6, 1934.

M. A. NEAL 1,945,785

AERIAL ADVERTISING DEVICE Original Fild Feb. 13, 1928 #4100434. NEH. gym QM H/s HTTOg/VEY- Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES AERIAL ADVERTISING DEVICE Malcolm A. Neal, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Aerial Advertising Company, Inc., San Francisco, Califi, a corporation of Nevada Application February 13, 1928, Serial No. 253,980 Renewed April 17, 1933 20 Claims. (Cl. 40-127) My invention relates to means for displaying advertising matter thru the medium of a balloon or other aerial vehicle, and its broad purpose is to provide an aerial sign which is visible both day and night, and which is not liable to become a preferred form of my invention in use.

conserve space and at the same time show clearly.

entangled thru the action of veering or gusty winds.

An. object of my invention is to provide suspension'tackle which will hold a sign substantially horizontal at all times.

Another object of my invention is to provide an effective illuminating means for 'an aerial sign.

My invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which will be set forth in the following description of my invention which is illustrated in the drawing forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said description and drawing, as I may adopt varying forms of my invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly schematic, of To the elements of this invention, parts of the tackle are broken away, and the balloon and ground tackle are shown on a reduced scale.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my sign, showing the illuminating means and its supporting rigging, the direction of the view being shown by the arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the brackets and struts of the illuminating means.

In terms of broad inclusion, my invention comprises the use of an aerial vehicle such as a kite or preferably a balloon, provided with the usual anchor line for holding it captive. Attached to this line by one of its upper corners is a sign which comprises preferably resilient or semirigid upper and lower spars between which extends a light network to which the legend or device to be displayed is applied. Guys connect the line to the upper edge of the sign. The lower corner of the sign, attached to a separate control line and a guy from the control line, is slidably attached to a bridle which is connected across the outer portion of the lower spar.

Extending outwardly from the sign are brackets attached to the sign spars, and reflectors are provided to direct the light from lamps carried by the brackets onto the sign.

I am aware that balloon or kite borne signs are not new. The methods used for supporting such signs have not proved satisfactory, due to their tendency to buckle or become entangled in even moderate winds. The sign of my invention, however, is attached wholly on one side of the line, and can therefore weathervane or follow changing winds perfectly. Moreover, twisting of the line introduces no stresses in the sign, and the guy and bridle rigging used allows the sign to remain substantially horizontal thru a wide variation in angle'of the anchor line, caused by shifting wind velocities or altered elevation or lift of the balloon.

Inmore detailed terms, a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a balloon 6, preferably provided with a parachute '1 and windstocking 8 for keeping it headed into the wind. Attached to the balloon by the finger patches 9 are the lines 11 which come together and terminate in the ring 12.

Also attached to the ring 12 is an anchor line 1 13 constituting an anchored support for the sign and by which the balloon is controlled through the agency of suitable ground tackle or windlass 14.

Fixed to the anchor line at a suitable distance so below the ring 12 is a clamp 15 to which one of the upper corners of the sign is secured by the short link 16. The sign comprises an upper spar 1'7 and a lower spar 18, between which is stretched a netting 19 with the device 21 to be displayed applied thereto. The spars 17 and 18 are preferably of light and resilient metal, such as duralumin and are provided at their ends and at suitable intermediate points with eyed fixtures 22 and 23 for connecting the various guys and bridles of the sign rigging. For convenience these and other connections are preferably made with snap-hooks or similar quick-detachable means, but such method of connection is not essential to the operation of my invention, as a simple eye or link may obviously be used in their place.

A guy 24 extends from the ring 12 to the eye 22 at the outer end of the spar 17, the length being such as to hold the spar approximately horizontal.

A bridle 26 is connected to the eyes 23, which are preferably so spaced as to divide the spar into three approximately equal parts, and a third guy 2'7 connects the ring 12 with the bight of the bridle, being attached thereto by the snap-hook or eye 28.

The lower inner corner of the sign is connected to a control line 30, which leads down to the ground tackle or windlass 31. Guy 32 extends from an eye-fixture 33 clamped to the line 30 somedistance 11p below the sign to a second bridle 34, to which it is attached by a sliding connection or pulley 35. The bridle 34 preferably spans the outer half of the spar 18, and the guy 32 with the pulley 35, rolling in the bight of the bridle, keeps the outer corner of the sign from flapping or whipping in the wind and also allows the sign to hang in its normal horizontal position even though the angle of the anchor line may vary widely with changing The lines 13 and 30 may be separately or simultaneously adjusted from the ground and by proper manipulation thereof the sign may be held in position .to give the best visibility from the ground. The necessary manipulation is minimized by the sliding connection between the guy and. bridle. The sign as thus far described will ordinarily hang extended and fiat, but to prevent the netting of the sign from catching over the end of the spar in gusty winds I prefer to provide a light slat or stick 36 extending downwardly for 4 or 5 feet along the outer edge of the net from the spar.

Means are provided for illuminating the sign. Brackets 41 extend outwardly from the spar 18 carrying at their outer ends reflectors 42 within which are mounted the electric lamps 43, the angle of the reflectors being such that practically all of the light flux from the lamp is directed against the sign surface. Guys 44 attached near the outer ends of the brackets 41 extend diagonally upward to the plane of the sign, where they are attached to the spar 17, and horizontal struts 45 provide lateral stability. If desired, an additional set of brackets 46 may be attached to the spar 17, their reflectors 4'? being directed downwardly toward the sign, and their guys 48 fastening the clamps 49 on the guys 24 and 27. The brackets are preferably tubular and the wiring for the lights is enclosed within them in accordance with ordinary conduit wiring practice, but when wooden or solid brackets are used the conductors may be lashed against the brackets or the struts 45. The cable 51 for supplying power to. the lights is preferably attached to and handled with the control line, although the anchor line may carry it if desired, or the power line may itself serve as the control. To prevent undue cable weight or resistance drop in the line the voltage supply should be as high as is readily obtainable. Where this exceeds the usual 110 volts the lamps may be connected with two or more in series, and it is then convenient to use the guys 44 as conductors.

By painting the net and the underside of the balloon a dark color to absorb the light falling thereon, while the device of the sign is so colored as to have a high coeflicient of reflection, a night sign is provided which appears to be self -luminous. It stands out in startling contrast against the dark sky, the supporting system being almost invisible.

Balloons are customarily painted with ,highly reflecting material in order to minimize the changes in temperature of the gas, and hence its lifting power, due to absorption and radiation of heat. This effect is of course most pronounced on the upper surface which is most directly exposed to the suns rays. Hence by confining the dark coloration to the under-side of the balloon there is little sacrifice of stability of lift, while the effect of invisibility at night is almost as great as were the whole balloon black.

It is obvious also that the illuminating system 'may be made to light both sides of the sign by the mere duplication of the lamps, brackets and supporting guys. If the device displayed by the sign be not symmetrical those portions showing through the netting which would otherwise confuse the display are also preferably colored black.

By an examination of Figure 1, it will be observed that there are four main forces applied to the sign as a whole, and that it is in the equilibrium of these forces that the sign maintains its desired position. First, there is the lifting force of the balloon; second, the pressure of the wind on the sign; third, the downward and sideward pull of the anchor line which directly restrains the balloon and in part balances the first'two forces; and fourth, the downward and sideward pull of the control line, which also helps to balance the first two forces but which predominantly counteracts the second or wind pressure.

The sign will of course weathervane in the wind, so that it tends to swing away from the anchor line. As the whole affair moves with the air currents, there is a pivotal movement of the anchor line about the point of attachment to the end of the upper spar, the wind pressure tending to keep the other end of the upper spar in substantially a horizontal position as shown With no wind the anchor line would be vertical and the sign would tend to hang with its center of gravity directly below the supporting ring.

This is of course a rare condition, and the proportions of the parts are such that with usual winds, the air pressure on the sign swings it upward into the desired position, which is not materially altered by a gain or loss in altitude, with consequent pivoting of the anchor line at the end of the upper spar. Because of the separate control line on the bottom spar, swinging and distortion of the sign are minimized; and because of the direct connection of the upper spar to the anchor line which of course is taut, relative stability is gained.

The construction thus described allows the use of larger signs than have hitherto been practical, a sign 50 feet square being readily displayed, and owing to its lightness and flexibility this may be done with a relatively small balloon.

It is to be understood that the ground, as referred to in this specification, may be the top of a building or other elevated platform, the term being merely a convenient one for designating the point from which the sign is handled.

I claim:

1. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial. vehicle having a. lower portion colored to absorb light, a sign having a portion colored to reflect light, suspension rigging for said sign also colored to absorblight, and means for illuminating-the light reflecting portions of said sign.

2. Advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, a sign having upper and lower spars sus pended from said vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle connected to one end of the upper spar, a control line attached to the windward end of the lower spar, and a guy line slidably connecting the leeward end of the lower spar with the control line.

3. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, a substantially plane flexible sign having upper and lower spars suspended from said vehicle, and illuminating means for said sign-carried by the spars.

4. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a sign partly supported by said anchor line, means connected to said vehicle and having its free end connected to said sign for supporting the remaining portion of said sign, a separate control line for said sign, a bridle attachedto the lower 15o end of said sign, and a guy from said controlline attached to said bridle.

5. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a

sign suspended from said vehicle, and means connecting only the upper corner of said sign to said anchor line so that said sign will swing away from said anchor line under wind pressure and be disposed in substantially horizontal plane.

6. In an advertising apparatus; the combination of: an aerial vehicle having an anchor line; a sign comprising a network having upper and lower spars; guy ropes connecting said upper spar to said vehicle, one end of said upper spar being pivoted to said anchor line; and a separate control line attached to said lower spar for holding the network of said sign substantially taut.

'7. An advertising device comprising an aerial vehicle, a sign suspended therefrom, an anchor line connected to said vehicle, means, connecting said sign and anchor line, for restricting relative movement between them, a control line, means connecting said control line to the lower portion of said sign, and a conductor for an electric current carried by said control line; said sign comprising an upper and a lower spar, netting stretched between said spars, extensions projecting from said spars, and illuminating means disposed at the outer ends of said extensions and arranged to project light towards said netting, the last mentioned means being connected to said conductor.

8. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a sign partly supported by said anchor line, and means connected at one end to said vehicle and at its opposite end to said sign for supporting the remaining portion of said sign.

9-. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, and a sign suspended from said vehicle, and connected to said anchor line whereby said sign is supported in a position away from said anchor line.

10. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a sign suspended from said vehicle, and means connected at one end to said sign and at the opposite end to said anchor line for supporting said sign in spaced relation to said anchor line.

11. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a sign partly supported by said anchor line, means connected at one end to said vehicle and having its opposite end connected to said sign for supporting the remaining portion of said sign, and a separate control line for said sign.

12. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for anchoring said vehicle, a sign partly supported at one end by said anchor line, means connected to said vehicle and having its free end connected to said sign for supporting the remaining portion of said sign, and a separate control line connected to the lower part of said sign.

13. An advertising apparatus comprising an 8 aerial vehicle, an anchor line forsaid vehicle, a sign suspended from said vehicle, and means connecting one corner of said sign to said anchor line whereby said sign will swing away from said anchor line under wind pressure and be disposed in substantially horizontal plane.

14. In an advertising apparatus, the combination of: an aerial vehicle having an anchor line; a flexible sign having upper and lower spars suspended from said vehicle; means extending from said vehicle and said anchor line to said upper spar for supporting said sign in spaced relation to said anchor line; and'a control line attached to said lower spar for holding said sign in extended position.

15. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line connected to said vehicle, an advertising device, guy lines connecting said vehicle and advertising device, a separate control line connected to the lower portion of said device, and means connecting said anchor line to said device for restricting relative movement between them.

16. An advertising device comprising an aerial vehicle, a sign suspended from said vehicle, an anchor line connected to said vehicle and normally passing said sign wholly exterior to the area thereof, and means connecting said sign and said anchor line for restricting relative movement between them.

17. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, a sign, means connecting said vehicle and sign, an anchor line connected to said vehicle, a separate control line connected to the lower portion of the sign, means for illuminating 115 said sign and carried thereby, and means connecting said sign and anchor line for restricting relative movement between them.

18. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle. a 1 sign suspended from said vehicle and connected to said anchor line, and a separate control line connected to said sign.

19. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a 125 sign suspended from said vehicle and connected to said anchor line, a separate control line connected to said sign, means for regulating the length of said anchor line, and means for regulating, the length of said control line.

20. An advertising apparatus comprising an aerial vehicle, an anchor line for said vehicle, a sign suspended from said vehicle and connected to said anchor line, a bridle attached to said sign,

and a guy slidably attached to said bridle.

. MALCOIM A. NEAL." 

